Papaverine Injection and Zostavax

• Generic Name: papaverine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

  Para-Time SR

Papaverine belongs to the group of medicines called vasodilators. Vasodilators cause blood vessels to expand, thereby increasing blood flow. Papaverine is used to produce erections in some men with erectile dysfunction. When papaverine is injected into the penis (intracavernosal), it increases blood flow to the penis, which results in an erection.

Papaverine injection should not be used as a sexual aid by men who do not have erectile dysfunction. If the medicine is not used properly, permanent damage to the penis and loss of the ability to have erections could result.

Papaverine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: zoster vaccine live
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
• Other Brand Names: Zostavax

Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus (varicella) that causes chickenpox in children. When this virus becomes active again in an adult, it can cause herpes zoster, or shingles. Zoster vaccine is a live vaccine that helps prevent shingles.

Zostavax works by exposing you to a small dose of live virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Zostavax is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Zostavax will not treat shingles or nerve pain caused by shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia).